Revs round out preseason signings

Former Seattle Mariners lefty Ryan Feierabend

The Revs made news today adding three potential impact players to the 2012 roster. Former Mariners lefty Ryan Feierabend joins the starting rotation, righty Stephen Penney to the bullpen (and the basketball team if we had one), and second baseman Andres Perez to the lineup. The signings give the Revs 26 players under contract heading into spring training.

Feierabend is a guy to keep an eye on for a potential early pickup by a major league organization. Still only 26 years old, the lefty broke into the majors with Seattle as a prospect when he was just 21 years of age, one of the youngest players in the big leagues at the time. He appeared in 25 big league games making 19 starts between 2006-08, and was set to compete for a permanent job in the rotation heading into 2009, but after trying to work his way through nagging elbow soreness throughout 2008 and into that offseason, it proved too much during his first bullpen session in spring training in 2009, and Feierabend needed Tommy John surgery, costing him the entire season. He came back to Triple-A in 2010, and did so again in the Phillies organization last season, winning 10 games for Lehigh Valley. He was released out of spring training by the Phillies this year, and now three years removed from his operation, could be a hot commodity especially after proving he was healthy last year. One other sidenote – Feierabend may have the best pickoff move we’ve ever seen in York. In 2008, he picked off six runners in only 39.2 innings for the Mariners, tying for fifth most in the American League.

Penney was also a Mariners prospect and was released out of spring training this year, so he’s another guy who has been pitching, and should come into camp in game shape. He’s put up solid numbers in each of his four seasons and was one of their last cuts. He spent all of last year at Double-A Jackson (TN) and is another young guy, only 25 years of age. He’s also 6’7, and listed at 240 pounds. Based on what we’ve heard, the Mariners didn’t want him to repeat Double-A, and had too many arms at Triple-A.

Perez could be a huge offensive addition. It seems to me like he often gets overlooked when mentioning some of the better hitters in this league, but to me he could certainly be one. Maybe it’s just the fact that he hasn’t been here that long. He was in Newark for part of 2009 when they had 80-some different players on their roster, and then he returned to this league with Bridgeport last season. But in parts of two seasons, Perez has batted .310 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI in 151 games in the Atlantic League. Not too shabby. And the Revs have a chance to get significant production from a position that is often looked at as defense-first, as Perez could be the team’s starter at second base.

For a full range of facts (and to re-read some of what you’ve already just read), here’s the press release:

The two-time defending Atlantic League champion York Revolution have capped their off-season signing spree, announcing the addition of three final pieces to the 2012 puzzle. Major league veteran left-handed pitcher Ryan Feierabend, reliever Stephen Penney, and second baseman Andres Perez will fill out the final three spots on the Revs’ preseason roster, giving York 26 players under contract as Atlantic League spring training gets underway this weekend.

Feierabend appeared in 25 major league games for the Seattle Mariners, making 19 starts between 2006-2008. At the time of his debut in September, 2006, the lefty was just 21 years old, the third youngest player in the American League. Feierabend began his major league career with six scoreless innings over his first two appearances, and totaled four games of big league time in 2006. The former third round draft pick enjoyed four stints with Seattle in 2007, and earned his first career win on June 3 of that season against the Texas Rangers. The following year, Feierabend was named the Mariners’ Triple-A Pitcher of the Year after going 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA for Tacoma, earning him eight more major league starting assignments that season. Feierabend picked off six runners despite totaling only 39.2 innings in 2008, tying for fifth most pickoffs in the A.L. that season.

A native of Cleveland, OH, Feierabend was forced to miss all of 2009 due to injury, but came back to spend most of the 2010 season at Triple-A Tacoma, and all of last season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, where he went 10-8 for the year and finished sixth in the International League in wins.

Penney joins the Revs after spending four seasons in the Mariners organization. The 6’7 righty is 16-8 with a 4.07 ERA and eight saves in his career, over 142 appearances, all but one of which has come in relief. The 25-year-old spent all of last season at Double-A Jackson where he went 5-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 38 outings.

Perez comes to York after spending the 2011 season in the Atlantic League with the Bridgeport Bluefish, where he batted .313 with 15 home runs in 87 games. Perez clubbed 14 of his 15 home runs after July 1. He was also an offensive force in the Atlantic League two years earlier as a member of the Newark Bears, mashing 17 home runs in only 64 games, earning a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009. In parts of two Atlantic League seasons, Perez has batted .310 with 32 homers and 108 RBI in just 151 games.

Perez finished the 2009 season at Inland Empire in the Dodgers farm system, batting .340 with five home runs in 26 California League games. He returned to the 66ers in 2010, batting a solid .285 that season. The New York City native began his career in the hometown Yankees organization where he spent his first two professional seasons. The versatile Perez has played 118 career games at second base, as well as 184 games as an outfielder. He has seen additional time at first base and third base over the course of his pro career.